Fire-extinguishing composition of matter



Patented June 29, 1943 UNITED,

FIRE-EXTINGUISHING COMPOSITION OF MATTER Eldon W. Hanks, Augusta, Maine, assignor to Halco Chemical Corp., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York No Drawing. Application March 7, 1942,

Serial No. 433,792

hanced if such compositions contain lycopodium in a more or less finely divided condition.

Many experiments and many actual practical trials have shown conclusively that in the use of a fire extinguishing composition of matterv containing lycopodium the area of the fire extinguishing effect is much greater than that resulting from the same composition in which no lycopodium is present.

Practical trials have also shown that in a room in which the floor, walls and ceiling are in flames, all of these burning portions of the room can be almost instantaneously extinguished-by throwing a comparatively small quantity of a'composition of matter of my invention into the room, whereas the same composition without lycopodium will, even if used in much larger quantities, extinguish the floor flames but will not extinguish the burning walls and ceiling.

As the fire-extinguishing gases in the previously known fire-extinguishing mixtures oflthis character are generated only at the point of contact of the mixture with the fire, it is evident that in the application of such mixtures the formation of such gases is limited to 'only those portions of the flames to which the mixture is physically applied and, hence the area of effectiveness is limited.

It would seem from the experiments thus far made that the efficiency of lycopodium is due to two of its inherent properties.

If a cloud of finely divided lycopodium be thrown in the air and a flame be applied to any portion of that cloud, the entire cloud is immediately ignited and, hence, it such a cloud of finely divided lycopodium be thrown into a burning chamber, the entire amount of lycopodium will be instantly ignited.

This transference of the ignited lycopodium to. the entire particles present is due to the fact that the ignition of each particle is of an explosive character, thus communicating each ignited particle to un-ignited particles, and thus igniting the entire quantity.

As the compositions of matter of my invention comprise an intimate mixture of finely divided 9 Claims. (Cl. 252-7) gases upon contact with flames and finely divided lycopodium, when a portion of said mixture is compounds which give of! fire-extinguishing a5 thrown into a chamber, or into the air, it forms a fine cloud consisting of an intimate mixture of the gas-producing compounds and the lycopodium.

If a mixture of my invention be thrown into a burning chamber, the entire mass of lycopodium particles will be instantly ignited, such ignition immediately setting free the fire-extinguishing gases of the intimately associated compounds, while at the same instant the explosive character of the lycopodium ignition will blow, or expand, these fire-extinguishing gases in every direction.

It is evident, therefore, that in the employment of my compositions it is not necessary to actually, or manually, apply the fire-extinguishing compound to all of the burning parts of the chamber, the application of the extinguishing gases being accomplished by the explosive character of the ignited lycopodium. Tests and experiments made thus far indicate the above mentioned theory of operation, but it is to be understood that my invention is not founded upon this expressed theory but is based upon the results actually produced.

In the foregoing I have described the application of my compositions in the form of an airsuspended fine dust and the results produced thereby, and similar satisfactory fire-extinguishingresults are obtainable by applying them en masse to the burning material.

My compositions are particularly valuable in extinguishing burning gasoline, kerosene and fuel oil and especially where these inflammable .materials cover a large surface, in which case the fire is extinguished almost instantly by throwing them horizontally over and slightly above the burning surface.

My compositions are also efiective in extinguishing ignited acetylene gas and other combustible materials.

The following are among the compounds, other than the lycopodium, which I prefer to use in the compositions of my invention, it being understood that my invention is not limited to the compounds thus specifically mentioned.

Among the compounds which give off fire-extinguishing gases upon contact with fire, I preier to use those which give carbon-dioxide under such conditions, such as sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate and carbonate of lime, although other compounds may be employed which give of! fire-extinguishing gases such as nitrogen.

As my composition of matter must be or such character that it will not deteriorate upon packing and storage, in order that it will remain in a condition or a fine intimately mixed powder for proper application, it is necessary that it contains finely powdered "non-deliquescent bulking compounds," among which are finely ground silica, china clay, i'uld, fuller earth. kieselguhr, iossil flour, tripolite, tellurine and diatomaceous earths.

I have also found that in some cases it is advisable to add a small quantity of powdered charcoal in order to assist the combustion at the lycopodium points of ignition.

i have also found that for some special uses where it is desirable to increase the speed of combustion of diflicultly extinguishable compounds, such as magnesium bombs, in order to reduce the damage incident to long ignition, it is advisable to add an oxygen producing compound, among which I have found yellow oxide of iron adaptable.

I give the following as one example of a fireextinguishing composition of matter oi my invention:

Finely powdered silica pou.uds 8 Fullers earth do 11 /2 Yellow oxide of iron do 10 Bicarbonate of soda do 80 Powdered willow charcoal ounces 4 Lycopodium .do 12 In the above formula, I have mentioned the assavsr oi such composition that it is not necessary the. the fire-extinguishing gas-producing compound: he brought into actual contact with the name: to be extinguished in order to release the tireextinguishing gas, and that, therefore, the are: or extinguished fire is greatly enlarged by th: use or the fire-extinguishing compositions or ma invention.

What I claim is: i

l. Powdered fire-extinguishing compositions oi matter containing lycopodium and a substance evolving a fire-extinguishing gas upon subjection to fire.

2. Powdered fire-extinguishing compositions of matter containing lycopodium, a substance evolvmg a fire-extinguishing gas upon subjection to tire and a non-deliquescent bulking material.

3. Powdered fire-extinguishing compositions oi matter containing lycopodium and a substance evolving carbon-dioxide fire.

i. Powdered fire-extinguishing compositions o1 matter containing lycopodium, a substance evolvmg carbon-dioxide gas upon subjection to fire and a non-deliquescent bulking material.

5. Powdered fire-extinguishing compositions of matter containing lycopodium. a. substance evolving a fire-extinguishing gas upon subjection to fire and fuller's earth.

6. Powdered fire-extinguishing compositions of matter containing lycopodium, a substance evolving carbon-dioxide upon subjection to fire and lullers earth.

7. Powdered fire-extinguishing compositions of matter containing lycopodium, a substance evolving a fire-extinguishing gas upon subjection to fire, fuliers earth and finely ground silica.

8. Powdered lire-extinguishing compositions oi matter containing lycopodium, a substance evolving carbon-dioxide upon subjection to fire, fullers earth and finely ground silica.

9. Powdered fire-extinguishing compositions of matter containing lycopodium a substance evolving carbon dioxide upon subjection to fire and charcoal.

gas upon subjection to ELDEN W. HANKS. 

